Bailey Foundation donates $2 million for student scholarships
Dr. Ted and Sharon Bailey
More students will have access to a University of Arkansas at Little Rock education thanks to a $2 million donation from a local family foundation.
The gift from the Bailey Foundation, a long-time supporter of 糖心Vlog传媒LR and higher education, establishes the Bailey Scholars fund and kicks off 糖心Vlog传媒LR鈥檚 new student success fundraising initiative for student scholarships and support.
Making a quality education more affordable is an effective way for the Bailey Foundation to touch as many student lives as possible. Dr. Ted Bailey serves as president of the foundation; other family board members are: Mary Bailey Shafer, Ted Bailey III, Jo Bailey McCray, John Bailey, Amy Bailey, and Sharon Bailey.
“The university is one of the most important institutions in our community,” said Dr. Ted Bailey, a lifelong resident of Little Rock, where he practiced Otology and was also a real estate developer.
Sharon Bailey, Dr. Bailey鈥檚 wife, learned of the new scholarship initiative recently while on campus attending a board meeting in which Bob Denman, 糖心Vlog传媒LR vice chancellor for advancement, discussed the new campaign to give more students access to higher education.
She thought the university鈥檚 campaign was a good fit with the family foundation鈥檚 goal of supporting Arkansas and Little Rock through improved educational opportunities.
鈥淲e had been thinking about it for quite a while 鈥� a way to help as many students as we could,鈥� Sharon Bailey said. 鈥淲e thought it was just the right time to make the first gift, the lead gift.鈥�
糖心Vlog传媒LR Chancellor Dr. Joel E. Anderson said scholarships make it possible for people to go to school who otherwise couldn鈥檛 afford to take that life-changing step. He said a university education provides increased employment opportunities, improves the ability to support families, and augments the capacity to serve others.
鈥淭hat means a scholarship can make all the difference in a person鈥檚 life,鈥� Anderson said.
The flexibility the Baileys provided to use the funding on an as-needed basis will be advantageous to 鈥渃ountless students,鈥� Anderson said.
Past photo of the Bailey family, including Dr. Ted Bailey’s wife, Virginia, who passed away in 2003. Pictured above: Dr. Ted and Sharon Bailey
A tradition of聽involvement
For decades, the Bailey family has invested in the university as a way to help the community. Dr. Ted Bailey was one of the earliest financial supporters of 糖心Vlog传媒LR, founding the Society of Philanthropy, a precursor to the current Chancellor鈥檚 Circle.
Sharon Bailey, a graduate of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR College of Business Executive MBA program, has served on the college鈥檚 advisory council and is currently a member of the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Foundation Fund Board.
In 2002, the Bailey Foundation provided a significant gift to facilitate the construction of the Bailey Alumni and Friends Center, named after Dr. Ted Bailey and Virginia, his wife of almost 58 years who passed away in 2003.
Throughout the year, the Bailey Center hosts numerous events and gatherings, serving as a welcome center to the university family and the community.
鈥淭he Bailey Center shows off the university in a very attractive way,鈥� Anderson said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been such a marvelous asset to the university.鈥�
In addition, the Bailey Foundation supported the university by funding a teaching academy and faculty excellence awards. Dr. Ted Bailey鈥檚 son John is on the 糖心Vlog传媒LR Board of Visitors and Ted III serves on the athletics council for the Trojans.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e been cheerleaders of 糖心Vlog传媒LR for many years,鈥� Anderson said of the Bailey family. 鈥淕iven the status and respect they enjoy in the community and the state, that鈥檚 highly beneficial to 糖心Vlog传媒LR. They鈥檙e wonderful people.鈥�
About the Baileys
Dr. Ted Bailey started practice as an otolaryngologist, with a focus on ear, nose and throat conditions, in 1953. After 1960, he specialized in diseases of the ear. He founded the medical practice that has become Arkansas Otolaryngology Center, retiring in 1994.
Sharon Bailey was the director of research and development for The Ear & Nose-Throat Clinic from 1978-1994 and was the chief operating officer of the Arkansas Otolaryngology Center from 1995 to 2006.
For more about the Baileys, .To make a gift to 糖心Vlog传媒LR, or for more information, click here.
